My Take: I find it interesting that the film is already up for two Golden Globe Awards, including Best Original Song.

The film opens nationwide on Wed. Dec. 21st.

Assassin’s Creed (2016)

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) is a career criminal who is set for execution by Abstergo Industries, a front for the modern-day incarnation of the Templar Order. He is forced by Abstergo to relive the memories of his ancestor Aguilar de Nerha, an assassin in the time of the Spanish Inquisition. What Abstergo Industries doesn’t realize is that by reliving these memories, Callum is gaining the knowledge that will allow him to defeat them. “Assassin’s Creed” Website

What to Watch For: The film has been in the pipeline since 2011, and Fassbender was signed for the role back in 2012.

Word on the Street: The film is based on the incredibly successful video game series of the same name. The film will feature the games’ signature “Leap of Faith” jump, which was done by a stunt double and not a digital double.

My Take: Normally, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to a movie based on a video game, but this cast includes two-time Oscar-nominated Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, and Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, along with Brendan Gleeson and Oscar-nominated Charlotte Rampling.

The film opens nationwide on Wed. Dec. 21st.

Passengers (2016)

Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

A spacecraft is traveling to a distant colony planet with thousands of people, all of who are in a state of suspended animation. There is a malfunction of the sleep chambers for two of its passengers (Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt) who have been awakened 90 years early. “Passengers” Website

What to Watch For: Jennifer Lawrence got a payday of $20 million while Pratt got a payday of $10 million to make this film.

Word on the Street: Reese Witherspoon, Rachel McAdams, and Emily Blunt were all attached to the film at various times for the role that Jennifer Lawrence portrays in the movie.

My Take: I noticed that the poster for the film has under the title of the film the universal symbol for S.O.S.

The film opens nationwide on Wed. Dec. 21st.

Lion (2016)

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

A five-year-old Indian boy ends up a thousand miles from home. After living on the streets of Calcutta, a miracle occurs. Twenty-five years later he (Dev Patel) is hoping for another miracle – that he find his long lost family. “Lion” Website

What to Watch For: The film is based on a true story and uses the non-fiction book “ A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose as the screen play’s source.

Word on the Street: The film is up for a number of critic awards and has four Golden Globe Award nominations.

My Take: I am anxious to see this movie as it has a very high 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film opens nationwide on Wed. Dec. 21st.

Why Him? (2016)

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Ned Fleming (Bryan Cranston) is having a bad year. His printing company maybe going out of business and his only daughter (Zoey Deutch), who he thought was safely tucked away at college, is dating an older man, Laird (James Franco), who runs a video game company. Now Ned, his wife (Megan Mullally) and his young son (Griffin Gluck) are going to spend Christmas at Laird’s mansion. “Why Him?” Website

What to Watch For: The cast was allowed to improvise while the cameras were rolling. Because of that over 240 hours of film was shot, which had to be cut down to its 111-minute run time.

Word on the Street: Critics that have seen the film are raving about Keegan-Michael Key’s performance as Laird’s assistant.

My Take: I always love seeing Bryan Cranston do comedy.

The film opens nationwide on Friday, Dec. 23rd.

Hidden Figures (2016)

20th Century Fox

The film tells the story of the African-American mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) and her two colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), who worked at the Langley Research Center. Their work helped NASA catch up to the Soviet Union and launched John Glenn into space. “Hidden Figures” Website

What to Watch For: The film is based on a true story. Katherine Johnson co-authored 26 scientific papers, and her work was instrumental in both the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle missions. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Word on the Street: The film was shot primarily in Atlanta, GA.

My Take: I love movies about the space program.

The film opens in Atlanta on Christmas Day.

Fences (2016)

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

An African-American father (Denzel Washington) struggles to raise his family in the very segregated world of the 1950’s while coming to terms with the events of his life. “Fences” Website

What to Watch For: The screenplay was written by August Wilson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for the play of the same name.

Word on the Street: Denzel Washington (who also directed the film) and Viola Davis (who plays his wife in the film) are up for Golden Globes Awards.

My Take: The film looks fantastic and it’s been wining quite a few awards, including Movie of the Year by the AFI Awards.

The film opens nationwide on Christmas Day.

If you can’t go to the theatre this weekend, then stay at home and watch movies on Atlanta’s CW.

Saturday

1:00 pm

The Mask of Zorro (1998) An aging Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) trains his replacement (Antonio Banderas), a young thief seeking revenge for his brother’s death. Both men want to take down the evil Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), a man who has caused both men pain and grief. The film also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Sunday

1:00 pm

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) A simple-minded writing student tries to free himself from an overbearing mother by creating a mutual murder pact with his unwitting professor. Cast includes Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal, Kate Mulgrew and Anne Ramsey.

3:00 pm

The Mask of Zorro (1998) An aging Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) trains his replacement (Antonio Banderas), a young thief seeking revenge for his brother’s death. Both men want to take down the evil Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), a man who has caused both men pain and grief. The film also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Mike has a degree in Film from The University of Texas at Austin. He has worked in the entertainment industry for over 25 years and sees over 300 theatrical releases a year. Mike has a weekly movie blog where he reviews films both present and past...